CDC recommends RSV mAb for all infants

A busy news Friday: CDC advisors voted to recommend the routine use of the first approved monoclonal antibody for RSV in infants, and a new poll shows voters like agricultural biotech and want faster regulatory approvals. (528 words, 2 minutes, 38 seconds)

CDC recommends routine use of RSV monoclonal antibody for infants

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) is the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention approved to protect all infants in the U.S. through their first RSV season, and it will be available ahead of the 2023-2024 RSV season.

The news: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to add Beyfortus to the list of routine immunization for infants, and CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen adopted the recommendation.

Federal support for access: ACIP also unanimously supported covering Beyfortus under the Vaccines for Children Program for kids without insurance or who cannot otherwise afford to receive it. 

Why it matters: “RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in children younger than one year old and causes approximately 58,000 hospitalizations among children under five annually,” says the National Institutes of Health. An unusual surge of RSV last year underscored the need for protection.

Ready for rollout: The makers of Beyfortus, BIO members AstraZeneca and Sanofi, say the drug will be available in the United States ahead of this fall’s RSV season.

What they’re saying: “It really does give promise to maybe one day making RSV in infants a disease for the medical history books," said Dr. Jose Romero, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), at the conclusion of the ACIP meeting.

BIO’s take: “This news represents a milestone for innovation in prevention and will be an important addition to our growing set of preventive solutions for RSV,” says Phyllis Arthur, BIO’s SVP of Infectious Disease and Emerging Science Policy.

Poll: Voters like ag biotech and want faster regulatory approvals

Most voters support faster regulatory approval of biotech innovations in agriculture, says a Morning Consult poll published yesterday (and commissioned by BIO).

The key findings: 67% of voters say government policies should support the use of biotech to address social challenges, such as food security and climate change, and 66% favor faster regulatory approval of biotech innovations in agriculture.

Education matters: The more people know about agricultural biotechnology, the more they like it. Of those who say their opinions have changed, 80% are more positive than in the past, the poll finds.

Where they want help: Benefits of biotech in agriculture that voters want to see more of include:

• increasing crop yields (84%);
• feeding more people using fewer resources (83%);
• producing drought-resistant crops (83%);
• breeding animals resistant to viruses and diseases (83%);
• producing food crops with built-in protection from pests and diseases (82%);
• growing the U.S. economy (80%);
• reducing food waste (79%);
• absorbing carbon in the soil (79%);
• increasing food’s nutritional value (75%);
• sustainable aviation fuels (78%).

BIO’s view: “Voters are eager to leverage cutting-edge biotechnology solutions to address some of the world’s biggest challenges. These survey findings should signal to policymakers the importance of advancing regulatory clarity to help bring biotechnology products to market,” says BIO VP for Agriculture & Environment Beth Ellikidis. 

Read full coverage in Bio.News.

More Agriculture & Environment News: 

Reuters: Mexican official says US refuses to cooperate on GM corn studies
“The United States has denied a request by Mexico to jointly conduct scientific research on the health impact of genetically-modified corn, a Mexican government official said, a sign the two sides could be inching closer to a formal trade dispute.” 

President Biden's Wednesday: In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with no events scheduled.

What's Happening on Capitol Hill: The House and Senate are in recess through Labor Day.